Pressure for youngsters to get a degree is creating a hands-on skills shortage, industry chiefs claim.

They say fewer school leavers are taking apprenticeships in the scramble for university places.

And as A-level results are due out this week, Diane Johnson, president of the Electrical Contractors' Association fears a "skills timebomb".

Ms Johnson says there is now an "excessive focus" on degrees - and claims vocational training and apprenticeships have been devalued.

She warns that too many students are leaving university and having to retrain because employers consider their qualifications "worthless". She added: "For too long a degree has been pushed as the preferred option.